P1037 - Stope Optimisation and Stope Layout
Value
AUD $1,035,000
Commencement Date
April 2011
Duration
3 years
Program Manager
Gray Bailey
Research Providers
Alford Mining Systems - Mr Chris Alford; AMC Consultants Pty Ltd
Sponsors
Barrick Gold Corporation; BHP Billiton; Boliden Minerals AB; CAE Mining (Datamine); Deswik Mining Consultants Pty Ltd; Glencore Canada; Maptek Pty Ltd; Minerals and Metals Group Ltd (MMG); MineRP (Australia) Pty Limited; Newmont Mining Corporation; VALE Canada Ltd
PROJECT SUMMARY
This project made use of the new approach to stope optimisation that was developed in a previous AMIRA project (P884), incorporating a stope shape annealing technique, based on background IP from Alford Mining Systems. This project fulfils the industry need to define the general set of requirements for stope design, and to extend the capability to deal with more complex requirements, including the range of stoping methods employed in the industry, styles of mineralisation and consideration of geological risk associated with probabilistic block models.
HIGHLIGHTS/DELIVERABLES/ADDITIONS
During the AMIRA P1037 project, the commercial release by Supplier Sponsors of an enhanced Stope Optimiser software was achieved and a comprehensive reference manual prepared. The key deliverable was the extension of stope shape annealing techniques from 4 point outlines to 6 or 8 point outlines, to increase the flexibility in the stope shapes generated, and to prototype a number of annealing techniques to handle narrow orebodies, orebodies with curvature and gradients, and stope crown shaping. The Industry Sponsors participated in the research and innovation, applied the tools to feasibility and site planning studies, became the first adopters in the industry, and put proven new tools to work for resource optimisation. Areas for further work have been identified and an extension project (P1168) has been developed to take the research further.